Bev Allingham, deputy director of nursing for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Flu is a highly infectious illness, which can spread rapidly through the coughs and sneezes of infected people.

“We currently have a number of confirmed cases of flu in the hospital, which has meant that we’ve had to ‘close’ a small number of bays on our wards, to new admissions.

“In doing this, it means we cannot put other patients in those bays, which of course, then impacts on other areas of the hospital, particularly at busy times, such as those we are currently experiencing."

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The trust is urging people to have the flu jab.

Ms Allingham added: “There are ways you can help us, yourselves and your loved ones.

"If you’ve not had a vaccination against flu, there is still time to have it.

"Your pharmacy or GP surgery can best advise you where to get it. In addition, we would ask that you avoid visiting loved ones or friends in hospital, if you’re experiencing symptoms of flu.”

Anyone that suspects they might have flu or are coming down with the virus, is urged not to visit the hospital until they are well again.

Flu symptoms come on very quickly and can include a sudden fever – a temperature of 38C or above, aching body, feeling tired or exhausted, dry, chesty cough, sore throat, headache, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, diarrhoea or tummy pain or nausea and being sick.

A pharmacist can give treatment advice and recommend flu remedies, or your GP can help in the same way and issue you with a vaccine.